Trump said the reigning Miss Universe pageant winner, Colombia's Paulina Vega, was a "hypocrite" for criticizing him without giving up her award.

"Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown-Hypocrite," Trump, who helps run the pageant, tweeted at roughly 5 a.m.

According to the Associated Press, Vega said last Thursday that Trump's controversial comments about Mexico were "hurtful and unfair" but she had no intention of giving up her crown "because the Miss Universe organization does meaningful social work in communities around the world."

She was referring to comments made during the Republican businessman's June 16 campaign launch, in which he railed against Mexico for supposedly sending its "rapists" and drug runners to the US.

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," Trump said then, according to a transcript. "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

Several prominent companies have cut ties with him. These include Macy's, which has a Trump clothing line and fragrance, and two television stations that were going to air the upcoming Miss USA pageant.